In an effort to curb a crisis plaguing the state and nation, the Colorado Department of Law on Monday announced $8.25 million in funding for various organizations and county jails for opioid crisis response assistance.

During Monday’s third Colorado Opioid Abatement Council Conference in Loveland, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced five county jails and 19 organizations are to be awarded “Opioid Response Strategic Impact Grants.”

Opioid use, namely by way of fentanyl, has emerged as a most critical and deadly form of drug overdose among all populations throughout the state, namely care patients on pain medication, inmates or homeless people.

Weiser said the grant is distributed for a variety of purposes through a collection of different organizations, according to a news release. Some uses for the money include providing medications and support services for opioid use disorder (MOUD) at jails and organizations serving different populations.

“Our approach to managing opioid settlement funds is widely hailed as one of the best in the country, and that’s thanks to the tireless work of leaders across Colorado,” Weiser said in the release.

In a speech on Monday, Weiser said he wants to focus on the ongoing availability of Naloxone, a treatment for opioid overdoses and usage. He vowed that in summer 2025, the law department plans to push for more dollars in the state’s Naloxone Bulk Purchase Fund.

“As we move forward, our mission is clear — to improve and save lives by working to make treatment available when and where it’s needed as well as preserving access to life-saving naloxone, which can reverse an opioid overdose,” Weiser said.

The Attorney General’s office, which opened the opioid grant application process in January, received 83 applications combining for $48 million in funding requests by the March deadline, the office’s release said.

The opioid impact grant will award five county jails $50,000 each, while the 19 organizations receive different amounts in different categories from peer services, treatment, MOUD and naloxone support, housing options with substance abuse, addiction recovery and family support.

“Together,” Weiser added, “we will continue to innovate, collaborate, and build stronger, safer communities across Colorado.”

Colorado’s Department of Law listed its opioid grant awardees:

• $50,000 each for jails in Summit, Moffat, Morgan, Pueblo (pending), and Arapahoe (pending) counties.
• 5280 High School, $500,000.
• North Colorado Health Alliance, $750,000.
• Antelope Recovery, LLC, $150,000 .
• Northwest Colorado Community Health Partnership, $675,000.
• United Way of Southwest Colorado, $140,000.
• Clinica Family Health, $225,000.
• Colorado Health Network, Inc., $625,000.
• Denver Recovery Group LCC, $450,000.
• The Naloxone Project, $600,000 (pending).
• Porch Light Health, $475,000.
• San Luis Valley Area Health Education Center, $295,000.
• Sobriety House, $130,000.
• Young People in Recovery, $200,000.
• Addiction Research and Treatment Services, $675,000.
• Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, $300,000.
• Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative, $685,000.
• Judi’s House, $300,000.
• University of Colorado Denver – College of Nursing, $700,000.
• Recovery Friendly Leader, $125,000 (pending).